Three toothbrush designed to adapt to the 3 different mouth shapes (narrow, average, wide)

Abstract

Three toothbrushes designed to adapt to the 3 different mouth shapes (narrow, average, wide) is disclosed. The 3 specific bends in the handle make it possible for the brush to stay in contact with the teeth at the corners or bend of our mouth/arch. The unique contour and placement of bristles “hug” the tooth/teeth from the occlusal/incisal all the way to the gingiva, making adaption of the brush NOT technique sensitive. The toothbrush(s) design encourages the proper brushing method used by dental professionals.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The toothbrush was invented to remove plaque, a sticky harmful bacterial film, from our teeth and gums. In the case of every toothbrush, there is a statement “For best results, ask your Dentist about the proper brushing method”, because there IS a proper method. Other toothbrushes are basic and universal-one size fits all, but we are all different shapes and sizes. Our toothbrush has to be able to adapt to those differences in order to be effective. The problem is people are not effectively removing the plaque from all surfaces of their teeth. The shape of our teeth are convex. The traditional toothbrush bristles are straight across as if our teeth were square shape. This makes it very difficult for the bristles to adapt to the outside and inside convex shape (buccal/facial or lingual) and remove bacteria without having to apply force or excess pressure when brushing.

Another wide spread issue is gingival recession or loss of gingival attachment. Majority of the time this happens from hard or aggressive brushing, usually with your first stroke which tends to be on the buccal/facial in the lateral, canine, and premolar area of both the maxillary and mandibular arch.

Also, the way we brush is a habit. It is very difficult to change someones habit they have done the same way for many years, even after they have been taught and shown a more effective way.

All these issues result in decay, gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth loss, and most recently the link between our oral health, systemic heart disease and diabetes. All of these oral diseases are preventable with proper oral hygiene, but yet are increasing inclining.

A study from the Centers for Disease Prevention (CDC) had shown that over 47% of the U.S. adult population aged 30 years and older have mild, moderate, or severe periodontitis. In addition, nearly two-thirds (64%) of adults over age 65 have moderate to severe forms of periodontal disease. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by loss of connective tissue between the teeth and gums. Again, this disease is preventable with proper oral hygiene.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

My toothbrush(s) has 3 specific bends on the handle that enables the handle to flex and stay in contact with the teeth at the 4 corners (lateral, canine, premolar area) or the curve of our mouths. The 3 bends replicate the mouth shapes or arch that consist of narrow, average, and wide.

The unique contour or bristle pattern was designed to the specific shape and size of our teeth, making it more effective in removing the harmful bacteria from and around the teeth and gums. You are able to remove bacteria from the occlusal/incisal and also the buccal or lingual (depending on whether your brushing the outside or inside) with the brush in one position. This makes it user friendly and not technique sensitive. It enforces that proper brushing method that most people do not perform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A. Toothbrush handles with the bends showing Narrow, Average, Wide

FIG. 1B. Handle Bends for Narrow, Average, Wide

FIG. 1C. Average bend toothbrush

FIG. 2A. Average bend toothbrush with 76 hole pattern and dimensions of the handle(s)

FIG. 2B. Prototype of the Average brush without the bristles

FIG. 3A. Dimensions of the head size in millimeters

FIG. 3B. Cross sketch of the bristle pattern

FIG. 3C. Sketches of the bristle pattern

FIG. 3D. Top view of the toothbrush head bristle pattern

FIG. 3E. Graphs of the teeth size and shapes from molds, used to determine the toothbrush head size and shape needed

FIG. 3G. Head view of the Narrow, Average, and Wide brush showing the bristles

FIG. 3F. Bottom view of the Narrow, Average, and Wide brush showing the bristle pattern

FIG. 4A. Narrow, Average, and Wide bend toothbrushes

FIG. 4B. Narrow, Average, and Wide bends in the handle and one size head and bristle pattern

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The head size consists of 76 holes or tufts, making the overall head size much larger than our standard adult brush which consists of 35-40 tufts. The compact head of todays toothbrush does not have the capacity of removing all the bacteria from the entire surface of the tooth, unless it is repositioned numerous times or you are brushing in the “proper brushing method”. The larger head size is able to clean more surface area than todays compact brush, but also since the toothbrush head size is larger it will make it uncomfortable to keep taking the brush in and out, as so many people do, and repositioning. Thus in return will help to prevent someone from skipping areas and also reduce the gingival recession often seen on the lateral, canine, and premolar area because you won't have that initial first hard/aggressive stroke.

The unique placement of the bristles or tufts are contoured to reach and clean half of the tooth in one position or stroke, making adaption of the toothbrush user friendly with better patient compliance. I studied thousands of mouth molds and measured/graphed the different teeth sizes. I also addressed the specific areas that most people get cavities, which is the biting surface or where we chew our food. Therefore, the inner rows of bristles are short and stiff at 6.8 mm to clean deep into the developmental pits and fissures on the occlusal or biting surface. This will help to reduce occlusal decay. The outer rows taper to 12.1 mm, which will reach below the gingival margin to prevent and treat periodontal disease and also root decay. These outer 2 rows of bristles are extra soft and gentle to protect the gums and also prevent recession.

The 3 different handles flex right and left. The handle used for the narrow arch will flex the most to compensate for the sharper curve. The wide arch handle does not need the same flexibility to stay in contact at the curve, making it the least flexible of the 3 handles. The average or normal arch handle will not flex as much as the narrow arch handle, but more than the wide arch handle. This unique flexibility from left to right makes it possible for the brush head to stay in contact at the bend or arch curve of the maxillary left or right quadrant and the mandibular right or left quadrant, depending where you brushing.

To use the brush(s), first place the toothbrush on the outside or buccal to the most posterior or molar tooth on the maxillary/upper right or left, depending on what side you want to start with. The bristles should be up with the outer rows reaching the gingiva and the center rows in contact with the occlusal. This will resemble the bristle at a 45 degree angle. With using short, overlapping gentle strokes, brush your teeth and gums moving forward toward the midline or your front teeth, keeping the brush in contact the whole time. Once you have reached the front teeth, you will then without removing the brush, begin to brush back to your starting position or the farthest posterior tooth or molar. Without removing the brush, you will now position the bristles on the lingual or inside of your molar or farthest posterior tooth and brush in the same pattern with the short, overlapping gentle strokes until you reach the midline/center or front teeth. Now without removing the brush, you will then begin brushing back to your starting position or farthest tooth back. Now you can remove the brush and reposition on the opposite side of which you started.

Again, you will place the brush on the outside or buccal, farthest tooth back in the posterior, with outer rows of bristles up against the gingiva and center rows of bristles reaching the occlusal or biting surface. With using, short overlapping gentle strokes, begin brushing until you reach the front teeth or center/midline. Without removing the brush, you will begin to brush back to the starting point molar or most posterior tooth. Now without removing the brush, you will reposition the bristles on the lingual or inside, and begin brushing with the short, overlapping strokes until you reach the midline or front teeth. Without removing the brush, begin brushing back to the starting point on the lingual. You can now remove the brush. The maxillary arch is now complete.

Repeat the process on the bottom teeth or mandible by positioning the toothbrush in the posterior or farthest tooth back on the right or left side, depending on what side you want to start with. With the bristles down and outer rows against the gingiva and inner rows against the occlusals, begin using short, overlapping strokes, keeping bristles in contact to the teeth and gums, moving forward to the anterior or front teeth. Once you have reached the center or midline, without removing the brush, begin brushing back to your starting point. Now again, without removing the toothbrush, move the bristles to the inside or lingual and begin brushing toward the anterior teeth. Once you have reached the midline, without removing the brush, begin to brush back to your starting point. You can remove the toothbrush.

Now you are ready for the last quadrant. Lastly, place the toothbrush with bristles down on the opposite side of the mandible you already completed. You again will begin with the farthest tooth back on this side. Place the bristles against the gingiva on the outside or buccal and center rows of bristles should be against the occlusal surfaces. With the short, overlapping gentle strokes, begin brushing toward the front teeth and once the midline is contacted, begin brushing back toward to the starting tooth. Without removing the brush, rotate bristle to the inside/lingual and brush toward the midline. Once the midline is reached, without removing the brush, begin brushing back to the posterior or starting point.

The toothbrush should have only been positioned 4 times. Always starting on the buccal side in the posterior and moving forward will prevent the recession from the typical first aggressive stroke in the lateral, canine, and premolar area. Avoiding taking the toothbrush in and out several times will solve the problems of skipped or missed areas while brushing.

The brush will not feel comfortable if positioned wrong. Because of the unique bristle pattern it forces you to place the brush in the correct and most appropriate position to effectively remove the plaque below the gingival margin and on the occlusal surfaces.

The handle of the brush(s) and the bristling are made separately.

The toothbrush handle is formed using an injection molding process. Plastic pellets are melted into a toothbrush mold and then cooled. The bristles or filaments, which are made of 6 mil nylon, are positioned in the head of the plastic handle through the 76 holes. The bristles are then stapled into the head with tiny nickel silver staples. Next, the toothbrush passes through a trimming machine which slices the bristles to 6.8 mm on the occlusal plane and staggered 8.5 mm, 10.3 mm, and 12.1 mm. The final step is sanding and polishing the bristles so they are smooth and end rounded to prevent abrasion to the enamel and damage to the gum tissue. All the steps are completed by a machine.

All elements are necessary.

Invention Includes:

1. toothbrush filaments (6 mil nylon, end rounded) are 6.8 mm on the occlusal plane and staggered 8.5 mm, 10.3 mm, and 12.1 mm

2. 3 different plastic handles. Handle #1 having a moderate bend just below the head. Handle #2 having slightly less of a bend. Handle #3 having the least bend.

Claims

1) The placement of 3 specific bend(s) in the handle:

The toothbrush(s) handle is specific to the SHAPE (narrow, average, wide) of your mouth, making it more effective in overall bacterial removal.

The 3 specific bends in the handle make it possible for the brush to stay in contact with the teeth and arch at the four corners of the mouth. The corner areas are a problem for recession due to hard, aggressive brushing, commonly the first stroke when entering the mouth, and also an area that is regularly missed or skipped on the lingual because the bend of our arch is awkward for bristle adaption.

2) The bristle placement and head size is specific to our actual teeth sizes and shapes

Proper brushing method is accomplished with a bristle pattern of short and stiff bristles (6.1 mm) on the center rows (for the occlusals) and gradually longer, tapered bristles (8.5 mm, 10.3 mm, 12.1 mm) reaching the outer rows (for the gingiva). The head size consists of 76 tufts. The overall head size is 32.4 mm long and 11.8 mm wide.

The larger head size and increased amount of end rounded bristles, plus the specific arrangement of the bristle pattern makes the adaption of the toothbrush user friendly and not technique sensitive. This in return will encourage the proper 45 degree bristle placement and lower the incidence of tooth decay, periodontal disease, tooth loss and systemic heart disease, because the plaque and harmful bacteria will effectively be removed.